This evening, the Nationals will take part in the First-Year Player Draft for the 10th time. In their existence, they've drafted near the top more often than not, and their first season in 2005 was no different. The Nationals held the fourth pick in what would turn out to be one of the best first rounds of any MLB draft. With the fourth pick that year, the Nationals selected third baseman Ryan Zimmerman. Two other third basemen were taken within the first five picks that year. All three of...

How about that? The Orioles have won four straight, and have scored 27 runs and racked up 50 hits over that streak. As I type this post, MLB.com's headline says the Orioles continued their "upswing in Texas" with their 6-5 victory on Wednesday. Upswing, huh? The O's are definitely trending in the right direction and appear to be gaining a bit of momentum. Tonight, they look to sweep the Rangers in Arlington and have now elevated themselves to 30-27, second place in the American League East,...

In their last five contests, the Nationals have recorded four wins, giving them their best five-game stretch since April 25-May 2, when they won five of six. In this span, they've outscored their opponents by a whopping 24 runs (34 runs scored, 10 runs allowed). They've put up 19 extra-base hits. They've allowed just six earned runs and have seen their team ERA drop from 3.30 after last Wednesday's loss to the Marlins to 3.11 as of today, fourth-best in the majors. They're back over .500...

Last night's Orioles win clinched the series victory for the Orioles against Texas. They go for a three-game sweep tonight. A win would also give them a winning road trip at 6-4 after they started the trip 1-4. This up-and-down season of the Orioles is back on the upswing. A win tonight would give the Orioles their second five-game win streak of the season. The Orioles have won seven straight games against Texas dating to last season and have outscored the Rangers 37-17 in those games. A few...

ARLINGTON, Texas - Let me make sure I've got it all straight. Miguel Gonzalez underwent an MRI on his right side yesterday and is a strong candidate for the disabled list. Chris Tillman is starting in Gonzalez's place tonight in the series finale against the Rangers, and Kevin Gausman may be recalled from Triple-A Norfolk and start Saturday night against the Athletics at Camden Yards. Bud Norris left last night's game after five innings with a right forearm contusion and will be re-evaluated...

They had to sit through nearly a two-hour rain delay before they could finish it off, but the Nationals picked up their fourth win in their last five games and second straight over the Phillies tonight by an 8-4 margin. Stephen Strasburg outpitched A.J. Burnett to move to 5-4 on the season and 6-2 lifetime against the Phillies. The two right-handers both appeared locked in before the Nats got to Burnett for eight runs in innings 4-6. Danny Espinosa had a big two-run double to break the...

ARLINGTON, Texas - Bud Norris said his right forearm is "pretty sore" tonight after he was nailed by a Mitch Moreland comebacker in the fifth inning. Whether he can make his next start is up in the air. "You never want to get smoked by a comebacker, but the trainers will look at it the next couple days and get rid of the swelling as best I can," Norris said following the Orioles' 6-5 win over the Rangers. "I don't know. I've really got to see how it is tomorrow. The swelling is...

ARLINGTON, Texas - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said the club is leaning toward placing pitcher Miguel Gonzalez on the 15-day disabled list. Gonzalez underwent an MRI this afternoon after complaining of pain on his right side. The results were more favorable than anticipated, but he's still expected to go on the DL. A decision will be made by Friday. Left-hander T.J. McFarland and Kevin Gausman are the other candidates to start Saturday. "MRI was better than we thought it might be, so...

Adrian Beltre hammered two more homers against the Orioles. Meanwhile, Bud Norris gave up five runs and left the game with a sore forearm. The Orioles blew a three-run lead. But they didn't blow the game. Nick Markakis' RBI single in the sixth broke the 5-5 tie as the Orioles beat the Rangers 6-5 tonight at Globe Life Park. The Orioles have scored 27 runs in winning four in a row to improve to 30-27 for the season. The Birds have scored 37 runs during a seven-game win streak against Texas...

ARLINGTON, Texas - Orioles starter Bud Norris stayed in tonight's game after taking a shot off his right forearm from Rangers first baseman Mitch Moreland in the bottom of the fifth inning. The next batter, Adrian Beltre, hit his second home run of the night and his third of the series to tie the game 5-5. Norris threw three pitches to test the arm before sending head athletic trainer Richie Bancells and manager Buck Showalter back to the dugout. Beltre dug in and drove a 93 mph fastball an...